Metal Revolution, a level made by Risen (or rather as his PSN dictates "Blorf") is an object driven puzzle platforming level that involves rolling a giant rubber wheel from the beginning of the stage to the end. I would also like to start off by stating something that should instantly tell you how I feel about this level:

This is one of the very few stages I've reviewed and have also hearted.

That's right, I hearted the stage, and in all honesty I think you should too after playing it. Why? It's not difficult to figure out, the level is just simply sooooooo good that it deserves it.

You start off on a giant metal platform, and may obtain the first wheel, the yellow one, and by taking advantage of all the wonderful things you've learned in physics classes, use your momentum to get the wheel rolling. The main purpose is to try to get as far as you can with the wheel you have. If by chance you die and can't get your wheel back, the checkpoints are located in front of wheel-spawning buttons, which will destroy the current wheel with a new one of whichever color that station produces. I think the order is Yellow, Blue, Red, Green, but I could be wrong (I might recheck later). Needless to say, it is totally possible to get the initial yellow wheel all the way to the end of the stage, but it is a tad difficult and I would not expect to make it happen on the first run through the stage (though you should be able to make it happen on the second or third time). Also, depending on what color wheel you bring to the end, if any (yes, the stage tries to sabotage your wheel at the end, be wary of it), you will be awarded with different amounts of points, and again it's obvious that yellow rewards the greatest quantity of score bubbles.

Normally I'd talk about the process of going through the level, but I'm gonna skip this one today because in all honesty I would end up ruining the level for people who haven't played it yet, as this is one of those levels that is best played in the style of trial and error. I think I've already said too much with the whole "watch out at the end" comment.

And that's all I really have to say, after all the level pretty much speaks for itself. It's challenging, fun, includes extra multiplayer areas, and is generally made of all the elements that a good level is made out of. Really, the only thing that I didn't like was the slight lack of available design IE it's not an eye candy level, but it really doesn't need to be since it does everything else too perfectly.

Final Score:
9.5 / 10
Slightly stale backgrounds and not a whole lot of replayability, but does it really matter? The level is just done too well to really say anything bad about it. Absolutely sublime from start to finish and I might have to strangle myself with a coat hanger if I ever say that again. Okay so the review isn't absolutely hysterical but screw it, the level is too good to make fun of.

On a side note, this level was just.......I mean ****!

deboerdave

01-06-2009, 08:49 PM

i'll have to check this one out sounds cool
i imagine it is similar to a level i made called log jam

Risen

01-07-2009, 12:33 PM

Wow! Thanks for the kind words. I probably would have done more visually, but the thermometer is almost full.

If anyone is looking for a little more info and some screenshots, you can look in the showcase thread: http://www.lbpcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5877

One small point for accuracy; the wheel isn't made of rubber. It's polystyrene, for the weight. It just happens to have a black sticker on it.

CCubbage

01-07-2009, 07:16 PM

Wow! Thanks for the kind words. I probably would have done more visually, but the thermometer is almost full.

If anyone is looking for a little more info and some screenshots, you can look in the showcase thread: http://www.lbpcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5877

One small point for accuracy; the wheel isn't made of rubber. It's polystyrene, for the weight. It just happens to have a black sticker on it.
Nice! I keep telling you, Risen - this ones a real gem. May be taking longer to take off, but I have a feeling about it.

I've personally played this about 10 times and keep going back to it.

hippocheesebarn

01-07-2009, 07:25 PM

I'd have to agree with this review. The level was a ton of fun and quite interesting in how it was done. Some tweaks on it have made it a bit more user friendly in the past few weeks. However the eye candy aspect is a bit lacking... but I suppose that is forgivable, seeing that the creator was clearly going for an industrial level. I've had a lot of fun playing this level, and I've gone back to play it multiple times. It's especially fun when you've got someone to mess around with in the level. :P

deboerdave

01-08-2009, 02:02 AM

i gave the level a play through it was really fun level. i'll be heading back to aceit when i get some time